U.S. patent number 7,935,202 [Application Number 12/559,117] was granted by the patent office on 2011-05-03 for system for mounting objects to polymeric membranes.
Invention is credited to Joel A. Stanley.
United States Patent |
7,935,202 |
Stanley |
May 3, 2011 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
System for mounting objects to polymeric membranes
Abstract
Systems and methods for coupling a polymeric membrane to a
structure are described herein. In some instances, the systems and
methods for coupling polymeric membranes to structures is
applicable to mounting structures onto polymeric membranes forming
part of roofing structure. Particularly, the methods and systems
described herein may be applicable to securing external structures,
such as photovoltaic cells to a polymeric membrane, such as a
thermoplastic membrane.
Inventors: |
Stanley; Joel A. (Colleyville,
TX) |
Family
ID: |
43729310 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/559,117 |
Filed: |
September 14, 2009 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20110061788 A1 |
Mar 17, 2011 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
156/71;
52/746.11; 156/291; 52/411; 156/292 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24S
25/61 (20180501); E04D 13/1407 (20130101); F24F
13/32 (20130101); F24F 3/0442 (20130101); Y02E
10/47 (20130101); F24S 2025/601 (20180501); F24S
2025/021 (20180501); Y02B 10/20 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B32B
37/00 (20060101); E04D 5/06 (20060101); E04D
5/14 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;52/408,411,746.11 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
Advertisement for Eco-Fasten dated Jan. 1, 2008. cited by other
.
Advertisement for Alpine Snowguards dated Aug. 20, 2009. cited by
other .
Advertisement for Applied Energy Technologies (Date Unknown). cited
by other .
Online Advertisement for EcoFasten Solar (as of Jul. 31, 2009).
cited by other .
Online Advertisement for Architecture Yamade from
www.a-yamade.co.jp: (Date Unknown). cited by other .
The International Search Report and The Written Opinion of the
International Searching Authority from counterpart International
Application No. PCT/US2010/048734, filed Sep. 14, 2010, issued by
the International Searching Authority on Nov. 3, 2010. cited by
other.
|
Primary Examiner: Yao; Sam C
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Walton; James E. Eldredge; Richard
G.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A system, comprising: a first thermoplastic membrane having: a
top surface; and a bottom surface, the bottom surface being
attached to a portion of a roof structure; a mounting plate having
a bottom surface; a second thermoplastic polymeric membrane
consisting of polyvinyl chloride, the second thermoplastic
polymeric membrane having: an upper surface, the upper surface
being thermally bonded to the bottom surface of the mounting plate;
and a lower surface having: a first surface area, the first surface
area extending peripherally along a perimeter of the lower surface,
the first surface area being thermally fused to the top surface
area of the first membrane; and a second surface area, the second
surface area being enclosed within the first surface area, the
second surface area being positioned below the mounting plate, the
second surface area remaining separable from the first membrane as
a force is exerted against the mounting plate; and a protrusion
attached to the mounting plate, the protrusion extending in a
direction opposite to the roof structure.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is adapted to be
coupled to a structure.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the protrusion forms at least a
part of the structure.
4. The system of claim 1 further comprising: a third polymeric
membrane; and a first bonding medium, wherein the first bonding
medium is disposed between a top surface of the mounting plate and
the third polymeric membrane; and wherein the third polymeric
membrane overlays a portion of the mounting bracket and couples
thereto by the first bonding medium.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first bonding medium is at
least one of a material forming the mounting plate or the third
polymeric membrane.
6. The system of claim 4, wherein the mounting plate is sandwiched
between the second thermoplastic polymeric membrane and the third
polymeric membrane.
7. The system of claim 4 further comprising: a fastener; and a
substructure disposed on a side of the third polymeric membrane
opposite the mounting plate, wherein the fastener extends through
the mounting plate to couple the mounting plate to the
substructure.
8. The mounting system of claim 4, wherein the third polymeric
member comprises a peripheral edge extending beyond edges of the
mounting plate and wherein the peripheral edge of the third
polymeric member is coupled to the second thermoplastic polymeric
member with a second bonding medium.
9. The system of claim 1 further comprising: a third polymeric
membrane; and a first bonding medium disposed between the second
thermoplastic polymeric membrane and the third polymeric
membrane.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first bonding medium
comprises one of a thermoplastic coating, an adhesive, or a carrier
tape.
11. The system of claim 9, wherein the first bonding medium
comprises at least one of a material forming the second
thermoplastic polymeric membrane or the third polymeric
membrane.
12. A method for providing a mounting location coupled to a first
thermoplastic polymeric membrane, the first thermoplastic membrane
having a tog surface area and a bottom surface area, the method
comprising: bonding the bottom surface area of the first
thermoplastic polymeric membrane to a roof structure; bonding a
bracket to an upper surface of a second thermoplastic polymeric
membrane with one of a thermoplastic, an adhesive, or carrier tape,
the second thermoplastic polymeric membrane being bonded onto at
least a portion of a first surface of the bracket; attaching a
protrusion to the mounting plate, the protrusion being adapted to
extend in a direction away from the first thermoplastic polymeric
membrane; placing the second thermoplastic polymeric membrane on a
portion of the first thermoplastic polymeric membrane, the second
thermoplastic membrane consisting of polyvinyl chloride, the second
thermoplastic polymeric membrane having: the upper surface bonded
to the bracket; and a lower surface, having: a first surface area,
the first surface area extending peripherally along a perimeter of
the lower surface, the first surface area being thermally fused to
the to surface area of the first thermoplastic membrane; and a
second surface area, the second surface area being enclosed within
the first surface area, the second surface area being positioned
below the bracket, the second surface area remaining separable from
the first membrane as a force is exerted against the bracket.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: bonding a third
thermoplastic polymeric membrane onto at least a portion of a
second surface of the bracket opposite the first surface, the third
thermoplastic polymeric membrane being bonded to at least a portion
of the second surface by one of a thermoplastic, an adhesive, or a
carrier tape; and bonding a portion of the third thermoplastic
polymeric membrane to a portion of the second thermoplastic
polymeric membrane.
Description
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Present Description
The present description relates to methods and system for mounting
objects to polymeric membranes.
2. Description of Related Art
Various applications exist in which a polymeric membrane may be
placed over a surface. For example, it may be desirable to provide
a polymeric membrane as a roofing material. That is, a polymeric
membrane may be applied to an outer surface of a building
structure, such as a roof, to protect the structure from the
environment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1A-1C show an example systems for attaching a mounting plate
to a polymeric membrane.
FIG. 1D shows a cross-sectional view of an example mounting
plate.
FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of an example mounting system
including a mounting plate secured to polymeric membrane with an
adhesive.
FIG. 2B shows an exploded view in cross section of an example
mounting system with a tape including adhesive on opposing sides
thereof.
FIG. 2C shows a cross-sectional view of a further example mounting
system.
FIG. 3 shows an example mounting assembly that may be coupled to a
polymeric membrane.
FIG. 4 shows another example mounting assembly that may be coupled
to a polymeric membrane.
FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the mounting assembly shown in FIG.
4.
FIGS. 6A-F, 7A-E, and 8A-D show various views of example mounting
plates.
FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of a further example mounting
system
FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of an example mounting plate
illustrated in FIG. 9.
FIG. 11 shows another example mounting system.
FIG. 12 is a side view of an example mounting plate shown in FIG.
11.
FIG. 13 is a further example mounting system that includes, among
other features, an insulating member.
FIG. 14 is an example system for bonding a ridge member to a
polymeric membrane.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present disclosure describes methods and systems for mounting
or otherwise attaching an object to polymeric membranes. For
example, in some instances, the present disclosure describes
methods and systems for attaching objects to polymeric membranes
utilized for covering all or a portion of a building structure
roof. In some instances, the polymeric membranes may include
thermoplastic polymeric membranes ("thermoplastic membranes"),
while, in other instances, the polymeric membranes may include
thermoset polymeric membranes ("thermoset membranes"). Example
objects that may be attached include photovoltaic cells, an air
handling component (e.g., air conditioning or heating components),
telecommunications equipment (e.g., antennas, satellite dishes,
etc.), or any other desired object. Utilizing the described systems
and methods for securing one or more photovoltaic cells to the roof
of a structure may provide tax benefits. For example, tax benefits
may exist for having photovoltaic cells attached to the structure
of a roof that are otherwise unavailable for photovoltaic cells
that are merely placed on a roof unattached to the roof structure.
Thus, in some implementations, the system and methods described
herein provide for attaching an object to the roof structure, and,
in the case of photovoltaic cells, may enable a user to enjoy the
available tax benefits associated therewith.
In other implementations, the described methods and systems may be
utilized for attaching objects to a polymeric membrane forming part
of a structure. Further, while some implementations may be
described with respect to thermoplastic membranes, thermoset
membranes may also be applicable and vice versa. In general, the
described methods and systems may be applicable to applications
including roofing, waterproofing, earth lining, pond lining, tent
construction, tension fabric applications, air forming
technologies, flexible plastic forming (such as with flexible
plastic films), rigid plastic forms, as well as any other suitable
application.
FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of an example implementation of a
system for mounting an object to a polymeric membrane. FIG. 1A
shows a polymeric membrane (interchangeably referred to as
"membrane") 10 and a mounting plate 20. In some instances, the
polymeric membrane 10 is a thermoplastic membrane. Example
thermoplastic membranes may include polyvinyl chloride (PVC),
thermoplastic olefins (TPO), keytone ethylene esters (KEE), nitrile
butadiene polymers (NBP), as well as other suitable thermoplastics.
In other instances, thermoset membranes may also be used. For
example, examples thermoset membranes may include membranes formed
from ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) as well as any other
suitable thermoset membranes, including thermoplastic membranes
that may morph into thermoset membranes over time, such as
chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSPE).
The polymeric membrane 10 may be secured to a structure 40, such as
a roof structure. The polymeric membrane 10 may be secured to the
structure 40 in any known or suitable manner. Further, in some
instances, the mounting plate 20 may be formed entirely or in part
from a metal, such as steel, galvanized steel, aluminum, titanium,
or other desired or suitable metal. Additionally, the mounting
plate 20 may or may not be weatherized. In other instances, the
mounting plate 20 may be formed from other materials, such as
glass, plastic, ceramics, composite materials, or any other
material. It should be appreciated that some applications may not
require polymeric membrane 10; as such, mounting plate 20 may be
bonded or attached directly to structure 40 without the use of
polymeric membrane 10.
As shown, the mounting plate 20 has a protrusion 30 extending
therefrom that may be used for securing a structure. The protrusion
30 may allow attachment and detachment of the structure, such as
structure 35, without damage or alteration to the polymeric
membrane 10. For example, in some instances, the protrusion 30 may
provide for a threaded connection with structure 35, although any
other suitable connection mechanism may be used. In other
implementations, the mounting plate 20 may be integral to a
structure. In still other implementations, the mounting plate 20
may omit the protrusion 30. Alternately, the mounting plate 20 may
include a mechanism for attaching or detaching a corresponding
structure thereto. For example, the mounting plate 20 may include
an interlocking mechanism for accepting one or more structures.
Example structures may include one or more photovoltaic cells, air
handling equipment (e.g., air conditioning equipment or heating
equipment), one or more antennas, mounting structures therefor, a
barrier, or any other desired structure.
In still other implementations, an example mounting plate 20 may
include a threaded portion for mating engaging with a corresponding
threaded portion provided on a structure to be attached or
otherwise coupled to the mounting plate 20. For example, FIG. 1B
shows a mounting plate 20 that includes a welded nut 22 for
accepting a protrusion having mating threads. Alternately, as shown
in FIG. 1C, the mounting plate 20 may have a threaded portion 24
formed therein for accepting the protrusion.
FIG. 1D shows a cross-sectional view of another example mounting
plate 20 in which the protrusion 30 is a separate piece insertable
into an opening 32 formed in the mounting plate 20. Further, a head
34 of the protrusion 30 may be retained in a pocket 36 formed in
the mounting plate 20. In other instances, the head 34 may not be
retained in a pocket formed in the mounting plate 20. In some
implementations, the protrusion 30 may be a carriage bolt
insertable into the opening 32, and the interface between the
opening 32 and the protrusion 30 prevents the protrusion 30 from
rotating relative to the mounting plate 20. Further, a mounting
plate 20 having an opening 32 of a single size may be operable to
accept protrusions 30 having varying shaft lengths, widths, and/or
diameters.
The mounting plate 20 may be attached to the polymeric membrane 10
in numerous ways. FIGS. 2A-2C show several cross sectional views of
the mounting plate 20 attached to the polymeric membrane 10. For
example, FIG. 2A shows the mounting plate 20 attached to the
membrane 10 with a binding agent, such as an adhesive 50, disposed
therebetween. Alternately, the binding agent for securing the
mounting plate 20 may be a carrier tape 60 having adhesive 70, 80
provided on opposing sides thereof, as shown in FIG. 2B. In some
implementations, the carrier tape 60 may have a removable
protective film or backing 65. In some instances the adhesive 70
and adhesive 80 may be the same adhesive, while, in other
instances, the adhesives 70, 80 may be different. For example,
adhesives 70, 80 may be selected based on the material being
adhered. For example, for a mounting plate 20 formed from steel,
the adhesive 70 may be selected to adhere steel, while, for a
membrane 10 formed from PVC, the adhesive 80 may be selected to
adhere to PVC. In some instances the carrier tape 60 may be a
foam-based tape. Carrier tape 60 may be used to secure the mounting
plate 20 to the membrane 10. One or more tape strips or sheets may
be used to secure the mounting plate 20. Further, the carrier tape
60 may be custom shaped and/or formed to fit to geometry of the
mounting plate 20. For example, the carrier tape 60 may be custom
fit to correspond to one or more geometric features of the mounting
plate 20, such as protrusions or other topographical shapes.
Multiple options for adhesives 50, 70, and 80 are available and
selecting an appropriate adhesive is often dependent upon the
desired engineered failure during testing. In some instances, it
may be desirable for the adhesion provided by the selected adhesive
to give way at a chosen weight threshold preventing damage to other
components within the assembly. In other instances, it may be
desirable for the adhesive bond to be so strong that components
would not separate without damage to one surface or another. In
addition, the selected adhesive may be applied to a carrier tape,
the carrier tape and selected adhesive also being capable of being
engineered with a chosen weight threshold and thickness. Adhesives
50, 60, and 70 include cross linking as well as non-cross linked
butyl adhesives. A non-exclusive list of adhesives 50, 70, and 80,
as well as carrier tapes 60, that may be used are: 3M VHB 4941 F,
3M VHB 4941, 3M VHB 4932, 3M VHB 4952, 3M VHB 5925, 3M VHB 5952, 3M
VHB 5962, 3M weather strip tapes, 3M Polyurethane 560, 3M Hybrid
Sealant 760, 3M DP 190, 3M DP 125, and 3M 1099 Scotch Weld
Adhesive, all of which are produced by 3M of 3M Center, St. Paul,
Minn. 55144. Additionally, Ashland Aroset 1930 produced by Ashland
Inc of Covington, Ky. 41012 is another example of a suitable
adhesive. Further, SikaLastomer-68 produced by Sika Corporation of
Madison Heights, Mich. 48071, is example of a suitable carrier
tape. The following companies make similar or competing adhesive to
those named above: Carlisle Syntec of Carlisle, Pa., Carlisle
Hardcast Incorporated of Wylie, Tex., and Firestone Building
Products of Indianapolis, Ind. It should be appreciated that the
adhesives and carrier tapes identified above may be identified as
adhesives alone, or as carrier tape alone, or any combination of
carrier tape and adhesive.
FIG. 2C shows another example implementation in which the binding
agent may be a coating of thermoplastic material 90 applied to one
or more surfaces of the mounting plate 20 placed into contact with
the polymeric membrane 10. For example, the polymeric membrane 10
may be a thermoplastic membrane. The mounting plate 20 may be
located at a desired location on the polymeric membrane 10, and the
coating 90 may be heated to form a bond between the mounting plate
20 and the polymeric membrane 10. In some instances, the coating 90
may be heated by heating the mounting plate 20, such as with a
thermoinduction welder or hot iron. In other instances, energy may
be applied more directly to the coating 90, such as with sonic
welding. For example, the mounting plate 20 may be affixed using
the coating 90 such as by dielectrical or sonic or vibration
welding, solvent bonding, heat bonding (such as using induction
heating, infra red heating, hot air heating, or hot iron heating),
any combination of the above, or in any other suitable manner.
It should be appreciated that thermoplastic coating 90, as well as
the thermoplastic coatings described in the other embodiments
herein, may be represented in a variety of forms. Such forms
include, but are not limited to: solids, liquids, or any mixtures
of material phases suitable for the implementations disclosed
herein.
A further example mounting system is shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows
a mounting plate 20 secured to a polymeric membrane 10 (e.g., a
thermoplastic membrane) with a binding agent 100. According to
various implementations, the binding agent 100 may be, for example,
a coating of thermoplastic material applied to a contact surface of
the mounting plate 20. With the thermoplastic coating, the mounting
plate 20 may be located at a desired location on the polymeric
membrane 10 and heated to bind the mounting plate 20 to the
polymeric membrane 10. Alternatively, any adhesive or carrier tape,
such as the adhesives and carrier tapes described above, may be
used to secure the mounting plate 20 to the membrane 10. The
combination of the mounting plate 20 and the polymeric membrane 10
may be considered a mounting assembly 110.
Referring still to FIG. 3, the mounting assembly 110 may be
attached to a polymeric membrane 120. In the present example, the
polymeric membrane 120 may be a thermoplastic membrane. However, in
other instances, the polymeric membrane 120 may be a thermoset
membrane. The mounting assembly 110 may be attached to the
polymeric membrane 120 in numerous ways. For example, the polymeric
membrane 10 of the mounting assembly 110 may be coupled to the
polymeric membrane 120 using one or more of the methods described
above in regards to the bonding of mounting plate 20 to polymeric
membrane 10. In other instances, a bonding agent 130, such as a
carrier tape and/or adhesive (such as the carrier tape and
adhesive, described respectively above) may be used. It should be
appreciated that bonding agent 130 may be another bonding medium,
including various bonding materials or various bonding members.
Similar to above, the carrier tape may be applied in pieces, such
as one or more strips or sheets. Further, as also described above,
the carrier tape may be formed to correspond to geometry of the
mounting assembly 110.
FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate an alternate implementation for securing
the mounting assembly 110 to the polymeric membrane 120. As shown,
a central portion 140 of the mounting assembly 110 may be secured
to the polymeric membrane 120 with an adhesive material 145, such
as one or more pieces of carrier tape or adhesive, such as the
carrier tape and adhesive described above. Another attachment
method or material may be used around a perimeter portion 150. For
example, a coating of thermoplastic material 155 at one or more
locations along the perimeter portion 150 may be used to secure the
perimeter portion 150 to the polymeric membrane 120. The coating of
thermoplastic material 155 may be bonded using one or more of the
methods described above. Alternately, one or more of an adhesive or
carrier tape may be used on the perimeter portion 150. For example,
the bonding material used on the perimeter portion 150 may act to
further secure the mounting assembly 110 or as a waterproofing
material.
It is noted that, in some instances, a coating of thermoplastic
material may be used to bond one thermoplastic membrane to another
same or similar thermoplastic membrane. In other instances, the
thermoplastic material may be omitted. For example, some
thermoplastic membranes may be joined using one or more of the
welding techniques above without the aid of a bonding material. On
the other hand, a coating of thermoplastic membrane may not be
capable of bonding a thermoplastic membrane or thermoset membrane
to another thermoset membrane. In such instances, an adhesive, such
as an adhesive or carrier tape may be used to bond such dissimilar
materials to each other.
In some instances, the polymeric membrane 120 may be the same or a
similar thermoplastic as a thermoplastic forming the thermoplastic
membrane 10, such as one or more of the thermoplastics described
above. However, the thermoplastics forming the respective
thermoplastic membrane 10 and the thermoplastic membrane 120 may be
different while still bondable with or without the use of a
thermoplastic material. In some instances, the thermoplastic
membrane 120 may form an outer surface of a roof structure.
However, the description is not so limited, and the present
description may be applicable to a thermoplastic membrane in any
desired application.
The mounting plate 20 may be of any desired shape. For example, the
mounting plate may be circular, rectangular, square, elongated, or
be of any other size or shape. Example mounting plates are
illustrated in FIGS. 6-8. FIGS. 6A-6E show various views of a
circular mounting plate 20 having a plurality of concentric ridges
21 formed therein as well as a central cavity 22 that may be used
to capture a head of a protrusion, as discussed in a similar manner
above. As also described above, the central cavity 22 may accept a
protrusion of different sizes. The protrusion may extend through
opening 23.
Referring to FIGS. 7A-E, the example mounting plate 20 also
includes cavities 22 to accept the heads of protrusions. The
protrusions may extend through openings 23 formed in a wall of the
cavities 22. FIGS. 8A-D are various views of another example
mounting plate 20. The mounting plate 20 may include various ridges
24 formed therein along with a cavity 22 and opening 23. Again, the
cavity 22 may be used to capture an end portion of a protrusion
extending through the opening 23. The mounting plate 20 may also
include openings 25 formed around a periphery thereof.
Further, for the example mounting plate 20 shown in FIG. 6A-8D
along with others within the scope of the disclosure, the cavities
22, openings 23, and/or the combination thereof may be operable to
prevent rotation of the protrusion relative to the mounting plate
20 while also accepting protrusions of different sizes.
Additionally, the respective sizes of the ridges 24, openings 23,
cavities 22, as well as other aspects of the mounting plates 20 may
be altered to any desired size.
Another example mounting system is shown in FIG. 9 in which a
mounting plate 20 is disposed between a first polymeric membrane
500 and a second polymeric membrane 510. Fasteners 520 extend
through the mounting plate 20, the second polymeric membrane 510,
and into a substructure 530. The first polymeric membrane 510
overlays a first surface 540 of the mounting plate 20 and includes
an opening 550 through which the protrusion 30 extends. A bonding
material 560 may be used to adhere the first polymeric membrane 500
to the mounting plate 20.
In some instances, the bonding material 560 may be a coating of a
thermoplastic material applied to a portion of the first surface
540 between the protrusion 30 and openings 570 formed in the
mounting plate 20 through with the fasteners 520 extend. Still
further, in some instances, the bonding material 560 may be applied
and the first polymeric membrane 500 coupled therewith to the
mounting plate 20 during one or more manufacturing processes. That
is, bonding the first polymeric membrane 500 to the mounting plate
20 with the bonding material 560 may be performed remote from a job
site, such as at a manufacturing facility. In other instances, the
first polymeric membrane 500 may be bonded to the mounting plate 20
with the bonding material 560 at a jobsite. The bonding material
560 may be a coating of thermoplastic material and used to bond the
two components in one or more of the methods described above. In
addition to adhering the first polymeric membrane 500 to the
mounting plate 20, the bonding material 560 may also form a seal
preventing or substantially preventing fluids from penetrating
through the opening 550 formed through the openings 570 and into
the substructure 530.
A bonding material 580 may also be applied to the first surface 540
of the mounting plate 20. In some instances, the bonding material
580 may also be used to secure the first polymeric membrane 500 to
the mounting plate 20, such as after the fasteners 520 have been
used to secure the mounting plate 20 to the substructure 530.
Utilizing the bonding material 580 after fasteners 520 have been
applied avoids the need to puncture the first polymeric membrane
500 for the fastener 570. Thus, in some instances, the bonding
material 560 may be used to secure only a portion of the first
polymeric membrane 500 to the mounting plate 20 while still
allowing passage of the fasteners 520 through the openings 570
without the need to puncture the first polymeric membrane 500. The
bonding material 580 may be utilized thereafter to secure the first
polymeric membrane 500 to the mounting plate 20 thereby also
providing a seal. The first polymeric membrane 500 may also be
secured to the second polymeric membrane 510 with a bonding
material 590. Also, a coating or bonding material may be omitted
where the polymeric membranes are capable of being joined without
such materials. For example, the membranes may be thermoplastic
membranes capable of being joined using one or more of the bonding
techniques described above. In such instances, the bonding material
590 may be omitted.
A bonding material 600 may also be used to secure the mounting
plate 20 to the second polymeric membrane 510. The bonding
materials 560, 580, 590, and 600 cooperate to form a seal around
the mounting plate 20 to aid in preventing or substantially
reducing penetration of fluids and/or debris into the substructure
530. One or more of the bonding materials 560, 580, 590, and 600
may be a coating of a thermoplastic material and used to form a
bond using one or more of the techniques described above. In some
instances, the bonding materials 560, 580, and 590 may be the same
material, such as a coating of thermoplastic material 610, and may
be applied to the mounting plate 20, as shown in the example of
FIG. 10. Alternately, one or more of the bonding materials 560,
580, 590, and 600 may be a carrier tape or adhesive as also
described above. In still other implementations, one or more of the
bonding materials 560, 580, 590, and/or 600 may be omitted. For
example, in some implementations, the polymeric membranes 500, 510
may be secured directly to each other using one or more of the
joining techniques described above without the use of a bonding
material. Still further, the mounting plate 20 may also be formed
from a material that is joinable to one or more of the polymeric
membrane 500 and/or polymeric membrane 510 without the use of a
bonding agent using one or more of the techniques described above.
In such instances, one or more of the bonding materials 560, 580,
and/or 600 may be omitted.
The mounting plate 20 is shown with a protrusion 30 includes,
although the protrusion 30 may be omitted. Alternately, the
mounting plate 20 may be fixedly attached to another object. Still
further, the mounting plate 20 may have a mechanism for selectively
attaching and detaching another object.
FIGS. 11 and 12 show another example system 700 in which one or
more mounting plates 710 are secured to a structure 720. For
example, the structure 720 may be a roof structure, although
structure 720 is not so limited but may encompass other structures,
such as one or more of the structures identified above or other
suitable structure. In some instances, the mounting plates 710 may
be coupled to the structure 720 with fasteners, although the
mounting plates 710 may be attached in other ways. A polymeric
membrane 725 is applied over the mounting plates 710, such as by
unrolling a roll of the polymeric membrane 725. An example mounting
plate 710 is shown in FIG. 12. The mounting plate 710 may include a
protrusion 730. Further, in some implementations, the protrusion
730 may include a piercing portion 740 adapted to puncture the
polymeric membrane 725. Also, a portion of the protrusion 730 may
include a fastening portion 735 that may be used to attach a
structure to the mounting plate. For example, in some instances,
the fastening portion 735 may be a threaded portion. However other
fastening mechanisms may also be used.
One or more of the mounting plates 710 may be secured to the
structure 720, such as in an array or any other configuration. The
mounting plates 710 may be secured with fasteners and/or with one
or more of the techniques described herein (e.g., using a coating
of thermoplastic material, carrier tape, adhesive, etc.). With the
mounting plates 710 secured to the structure 720, the polymeric
membrane 725 may be overlaid. The mounting plate 725 may be made to
extend through the polymeric membrane 725 such as by puncturing the
polymeric membrane 725 with the piercing portion 740. In other
implementations, the polymeric membrane 725 may have preformed
openings to allow the protrusions 730 to extend therethrough. The
polymeric membrane 725 may be secured to the mounting plate 710
using one or more of the techniques described above. For example,
the mounting plate 710 may be coupled to the polymeric membrane 725
with a bonding material 727. The bonding material 727 may be one or
more of the materials discussed above and the coupling may be
formed using one or more of the methods described above.
FIG. 13 shows another example system 900 including a mounting plate
910 coupled to a substructure 920. Among other uses, the system 900
may be applicable to roofing applications. The mounting plate 910
is shown as being attached with fasteners 930. However, other
techniques may be used to secure the mounting plate 910 to the
substructure 920. The mounting plate 910 may include a protrusion
940 and a piercing portion 950. Further, in some implementations,
the protrusion 940 may include a fastening portion 955.
Additionally, while the protrusion 940 is shown as an integral
portion of the mounting plate 910, the protrusion 940 may be
attached to the mounting plate 910 using a fastening mechanism. For
example, in some implementations, the protrusion 940 may be
attached to the mounting plate 910 via a threaded connection. An
insulating member 960 may be disposed above the substructure 920.
An attachment member 970 may be secured to the protrusion 940, such
as by engaging the fastening portion 950. In some implementations,
the fastening portion 950 and attachment member 970 may have a
threaded engagement, although other attachment interfaces may be
used. A polymeric membrane 965 overlays the insulating member 960
and may be bonded to the attachment member 970 with a bonding
material 980. In some implementations, the bonding material 980 may
be a coating of thermoplastic material applied to attachment member
970. In other implementations, a carrier tape and/or an adhesive
may be used to couple polymeric membrane 965 to the attachment
member 970.
In addition, the described methods and systems can also reduce
damage to a polymeric membrane. For example, when objects are
unattached but are in contact, debris may become lodged between the
object and the polymeric membrane, and, because of the relative
movement between the two, the debris may act as an abrasive on the
polymeric membrane. Over time, holes, rips, or other damage may
occur to the polymeric membrane exposing the underlying structure
to the environment, such as moisture, wind, etc. This exposure can
cause damage to the structure. However, the present disclosure
describes methods and systems that avoid these drawbacks.
Additionally, some of the methods and systems described herein also
provide for securing one or more objects to a polymeric membrane
without piercing the polymeric membrane. Consequently, objects
remain attached to the polymeric membrane without providing a
pathway for moisture or other objects, e.g., insects, debris, etc.,
to pass through the membrane. Again, this can have particular value
in waterproofing covering applications where an unperforated
covering is greatly desired.
Another example system 1000 is illustrated in FIG. 14. The system
1000 includes a polymeric membrane 1010, a ridge member 1020, and a
bonding member 1030. In some implementations, the polymeric
membrane 1010 may form a portion of a roof structure, such as an
exterior membrane. The ridge member 1020 may be coupled to the
polymeric membrane 1010 by the bonding member 1030. In some
instances, the bonding member 1030 may be a double sided carrier
tape similar to the carrier tape described above. In some
implementations, the adhesive on the sides of the carrier tape may
be selected to provide a bond according to the material forming the
polymeric membrane 1010 and/or the ridge member 1020. In other
implementations, the bonding member 1030 may be an adhesive
selected to adhere polymeric membrane 1010 to the ridge member
1020. In some instances, the adhesive may be an adhesive similar to
the adhesive described above.
The bonding member 1030 may occupy a channel 1040 formed in a base
1050 of the ridge member 1020. Lips 1055 may also be formed in the
ridge member 1020 to aid in preventing intrusion of fluids and
other materials into the channel 1040. A benefit of the bonding
member 1030 is that while coupling the ridge member 1020 to the
polymeric membrane 1010, the bonding member 1030 may have a bonding
strength less than the yield strength of the polymeric membrane
1010 and/or the ridge member 1020. Consequently, the bonding member
1030 will yield, separating the ridge member 1020 from the
polymeric membrane 1010 when a shearing load on the ridge member
1020 exceeds the strength of the bonding member 1030. Consequently,
the bonding member 1030 will yield without damaging either the
ridge member 1020 or the polymeric membrane 1010. For example, in
an application in which the polymeric membrane 1010 and ridge
member 1020 form an exterior portion of a roof structure, a
shearing force on the ridge member 1020, for example, caused by a
sheet of ice formed on the roof structure, would not tear the
polymeric membrane 1010 as the ice sheet moves down a slope of the
roof. Rather, the shearing force would merely sever the ridge
member 1020 from the polymeric membrane 1010. In other
implementations, the bonding member 1030 may have a yield strength
equal to or greater than one or more of the ridge member 1020
and/or the polymeric membrane 1010.
Although the present disclosure has been described with several
implementations, various changes and modifications may be suggested
to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the present
disclosure encompass such changes and modifications as fall within
the scope of the appended claims and their equivalence.
* * * * *
References